Neuromuscular Junction

Question 1

skeletal muscles

Answer 1

voluntary

Question 2

synaptic knob

Answer 2

expanded tip of neuron axon (enlarged end of a neuron)

Question 3

synaptic vesicles

Answer 3

membrane sacs in synaptic knob filled with acetycholine (ACh, neurotransmitter for muscle contraction)

Question 4

synaptic cleft

Answer 4

narrow space separating synaptic knob and motor end plate (between neuron and muscle fiber)

Question 5

motor end plate

Answer 5

region of sarcolemma with many folds (increased surface area) under the synaptic knob

Question 6

ACh receptors

Answer 6

proteins that bind ACh on the motor end plate

Question 7

acetycholinesterase (AChE)

Answer 7

enzymein synaptic cleft that breaks down ACh (prevents continuous stimulation of muscle)

• stops muscle contraction